Time-lapse stereo macro photography systems and methods and stereo time-lapse video made with same

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for macro stereo time-lapse photography, producing a stereographic time-lapse digital video, and macro stereographic time-lapse digital videos. A method of producing a sequence of time-lapse stereographic images of a subject, by positioning a camera with a macro lens at a first position relative to the subject; using the camera to obtain a first stack of images of the subject from the first position; positioning the camera at a second position relative to the subject; using the camera to obtain a second stack of images of the subject from the second position; and storing the first stack of images and the second stack of images as a stack pair; and then selectively repeating.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisionalpatent application No. 62/667,730 filed May 7, 2018, the entire contentsof which are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for allpurposes.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to macro and micro photography. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to time-lapse stereo macro andmicro photography.

SUMMARY

The present invention is specified in the claims as well as in the belowdescription. Preferred embodiments are particularly specified in thedependent claims and the description of various embodiments.

Below is a list of method or process embodiments. Those will beindicated with a letter “M”. Whenever such embodiments are referred to,this will be done by referring to “M” embodiments.

M1. A method of producing a sequence of time-lapse stereographic imagesof a subject, the method comprising:

(A) positioning a camera with a macro lens at a first position relativeto the subject;

(B) using the camera to obtain a first stack of images of the subjectfrom the first position;

(C) positioning the camera at a second position relative to the subject;

(D) using the camera to obtain a second stack of images of the subjectfrom the second position;

(E) storing the first stack of images and the second stack of images asa stack pair; and

(F) selectively repeating acts (A)-(E).

M2. The method of embodiment M1, wherein said selectively repeating in(F) is based on a period of total elapsed time and/or a number of stackpairs obtained.M3. The method of embodiments M1 or M2, wherein said first position isto the left of the second position.M4. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thefocus of the lens is the same at the first position and the secondposition.M5. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thecamera is located in a three-dimensional space relative to the subject,and wherein said positioning in (A) and (C) changes the camera'sposition for only one of the dimensions.M6. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein eachrepetition of acts (A)-(E) forms a corresponding stack pair, the methodfurther comprising: forming a series of image pairs from the stackpairs.M7. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, furthercomprising: (A2) waiting a predetermined amount of time after positionthe camera in (A) and before using the camera in (B).M8. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the acts(A)-(F) are, at least in part, controlled by a controller.M9. The method of embodiment M8, wherein the controller is independentof the camera.M10. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein one ormore of the following are parameterized:

(i) the first position;

(ii) the second position;

(iii) the number of images in the first stack;

(iv) the number of images in the second stack;

(v) the number of times acts (A)-(E) are repeated;

(vi) the time period during which acts (A)-(F) are repeated;

(vii) the number of stack pairs obtained;

(viii) the total elapsed time.

M11. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thesecond position is determined as a function of the first position and adistance of the camera to the subject.M12. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein saidusing the camera in (B) occurs a first preset time after saidpositioning in (A).M13. The method of embodiment M12, wherein said first preset time isselected to avoid vibration based on said positioning in (A).M14. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein saidusing the camera in (D) occurs a second preset time after saidpositioning in (C).M15. The method of embodiment M14, wherein said second preset time isselected to avoid vibration based on said positioning in (C).M16. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thecamera moves along a line, the method further comprising: (Al) rotatingthe camera by a particular angle (R) with respect to the line prior tousing the camera in (B).M17. The method of embodiment M16, wherein said rotating in (Al) occursduring said positioning in (A).M18. The method of embodiments M16 or M17, further comprising, (C1)rotating the camera by a negative of the particular angle (-R) withrespect to the line prior to using the camera in (D).M19. The method of embodiment M18, wherein said rotating in (C1) occursduring said positioning in (C).M20. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein adistance between said first position and said second position, referredto as a stereo base, is based on one or more of: a parallax desired; alargest distance of the subject from the camera lens, the nearestdistance of the subject from the camera lens, and the focal length ofthe lens.M21. The method of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein adistance between said first position and said second position, referredto as a stereo base, is determined automatically by said controllerbased on information obtained from said camera and/or informationprovided by a user.M22. The method of any one of embodiments M16-M21, wherein saidparticular angle R is determined automatically, based on one or more of:a distance between the first position and the second position; and adistance of the camera from a part of the subject.

Below is a list of sequence or video embodiments. Those will beindicated with a letter “S” or “F”. Whenever such embodiments arereferred to, this will be done by referring to “S” or “F” embodiments.

S23. A sequence of image pairs obtained by the method of any one of thepreceding embodiments.S24. The sequence of embodiment S23, wherein said sequence comprises astereo time-lapse video.S25. The sequence of embodiment S24, wherein said video comprises adigital video.F26. A stereo time-lapse video comprising multiple image pairs obtainedby the method of any one of the preceding method embodiments.F27. The stereo time-lapse video of embodiment F26, wherein said videocomprises a digital video.

A skilled reader will understand, that any method described above orbelow and/or claimed and described as a sequence of steps is notrestrictive in the sense of the order of steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIGS. 1, 2, 3A and 3B show aspects of a time-lapse stereo macrophotography system according to exemplary embodiments hereof; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing aspects of operation of a time-lapsestereo macro photography system according to exemplary embodimentshereof; and

FIGS. 5A-5B are data structures according to exemplary embodimentshereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTSDiscussion

The inventor has realized that conventional time lapse and stereographictechniques do not apply to macro photography, in particular due to thesmall dimensions at play. For example, when taking a macro photograph,the subject of the photograph may typically be required to be very closeto the lens of the camera due to its extremely small size. For example,a macro lens with a 50 mm focal length may require for the lens to bewithin ˜22.86 cm (˜9.0 inches) of the subject to be in focus.

This disclosure presents devices and techniques for achieving time-lapsestereographic macro and micro photography.

Description

A system according to exemplary embodiments hereof will be described indetail and with reference to the drawing in FIG. 1. The system 100 mayinclude an assembly that may include a positioning assembly 102, acamera mount (not shown), a support structure 106 and a controller 108.In general, a camera 116 (e.g., a camera equipped with a macro lens) maybe mounted on the positioning assembly 102, and the positioning assemblymay position the camera 116 at any coordinate or location inthree-dimensional space (with respect to the assembly 100) as required.

The camera mount may be a conventional mount and may include an upwardextending bolt that may be received into the standard threaded mountinghole found on the underside of most conventional cameras. In this way,the camera 116 may be securely attached to the mount and to thepositioning assembly 102. Note that other attachment mechanisms may alsobe used to attach the camera 116 to the mount such as clamps, latches,brackets and other types of attachment mechanisms.

The assembly 100 and the camera 116 may be supported by the supportstructure 106 (e.g., a tripod, a stand, a column, a pole structure, aclamp, a bracket or other type of support structure). In this way, thecamera 116 and the assembly 100 may be adequately supported during usewhile taking photographs.

According to exemplary embodiments hereof, the positioning assembly 102may include an X-axis positioning mechanism 110, a Y-axis positioningmechanism 112, and a Z-axis positioning mechanism 114. The positioningmechanisms 110, 112, 114 preferably operate independent of each otherand may position the mount 102 and attached camera 116 in anythree-dimensional position with respect to the assembly 100, asrequired.

The movement resolution of the positioning assembly 102 is preferablysufficiently fine to allow the camera 116 to be moved in very small,very well controlled, consistent, and repeatable incremental movements.The movements should preferably be free of hysteresis. For example,preferably the positioning assembly has sufficient resolution to movethe camera 116 in repeatable and consistent increments of 0.01 mm with arepeatability of 0.001 mm along each of the three axes. The accuracy ofmovement and positioning of the assembly 102 may be, but need not be,the same along each of the three axes. In some embodiments the accuracyof the vertical axis (the Z axis in the drawing) may be less than theaccuracy of the other two axes.

In exemplary embodiments hereof, the x-axis positioning mechanism 110,the y-axis positioning mechanism 112 and the z-axis positioningmechanism 114 may each include carriages and rails. As shown in FIG. 1,the x-axis positioning mechanism 110 may include a carriage 110-1configured with a rail 110-2 such that the carriage 110-1 may travellongitudinally along the rail 110-2 in the x-direction. Similarly, they-axis positioning mechanism 112 and the z-axis positioning mechanism114 may each include carriages 112-1, 114-1, respectively, that maytravel longitudinally along rails 112-2, 114-2 in the y-direction andz-direction respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 116 may be configured with the carriage110-1 so that the camera 116 may travel in the x-direction along therail 110-2. The rail 110-2 may be configured with the carriage 112-1 sothat the rail 110-2 may travel in the y-direction along the rail 112-2.The rail 112-2 may be configured with the carriage 114-1 so that therail 112-2 may travel in the z-direction along the rail 114-2. The rail112-2 may be configured with the support structure 106 so that thecomponents as described may be held stable when in use.

With this configuration, it can be seen that the camera 116 may be movedsimultaneously and independently along the x-axis (e.g., by moving thecarriage 110-1 along the rail 110-2), along the y-axis (e.g. by movingthe carriage 112-1 along the rail 112-2) and along the z-axis (e.g., bymoving the carriage 114-1 along the rail 114-2).

The carriages 110-1, 112-1, 114-1 are preferably independently motorizedunder control of the controller 108. The motors may position thecarriages 110-1, 112-1, 114-1 along the rails 110-2, 112-2, 114-2,respectively. The motors may be electric motors or any other type ofmotors that may adequately move the carriages 110-1, 112-1, 114-1 withthe required degrees of consistency and accuracy. Thus, preferably themotors are configured with the carriages 110-1, 112-1, and 114-1 suchthat the motors may move the carriages 110-1, 112-1, and 114-1 with fineresolution and in incremental movements that are repeatable, consistent,and free of hysteresis. For example, it may be preferable that themotors move the carriages 110-1, 112-1, and 114-1 in increments of 0.01mm with a consistency and repeatability of 0.001 mm.

In some embodiments, the carriages 110-1, 112-1, 114-1 may also (orinstead) be positioned manually and the assembly 102 may includemicrometers and other mechanisms that may be used to manually set theposition of the carriages 110-1, 112-1, 114-1 along the rails 110-2,112-2, 114-2 respectively. Manual positioning may be used, e.g., toperform initial setup of the camera with respect to a subject.

The motors may be configured with cams and the carriages 110-1, 112-1,and 114-1 may be configured with cam followers that may each beconfigured with its corresponding cam. The motors may rotate the camsand the cam followers, and the corresponding carriages, may thereby movelaterally along their respective axes. This may allow the motors totightly control the movement of the carriages 110-1, 112-1, and 114-1with sufficiently high precision. For example, the motors may have theability to set the position of the carriages 110-1, 112-1, and 114-1with a precision of 0.01 mm accuracy and with 0.001 mm repeatability. Inthis way, the system 100 may precisely control the position of thecamera 116 with the precision required by focus stacking and macrostereo photography.

In some embodiments, the camera may be rotated (e.g., by automaticallyrotating the carriage 110-1 or a mount mechanism (not shown)). In thismanner, the camera may be angled differently for the left and rightimages. This rotation may be referred to as a “toe-in.”

As should be appreciated, the positioning assembly 102 described aboveis meant for demonstrational purposes, and other types of positioningassemblies 102 may also be employed that may achieve the same generalfunctionalities as described. For example, while the positioningassembly 102 described above may be based on a Cartesian (X, Y, Z)coordinate system (e.g., comprising components that may move alongplanes in the X, Y and Z directions), the positioning assembly 102 mayalso be based on other three-dimensional coordinate systems. In oneexample, the positioning assembly 102 may be based on a sphericalcoordinate system where the position of the camera 116 may be defined bya radial distance (r) from a fixed origin, a polar angle (θ) measuredfrom a fixed zenith direction, and an azimuth angle (φ) of itsorthogonal projection on a reference plane that passes through theorigin and is orthogonal to the zenith, measured from a fixed referencedirection on that plane.

As described above, the camera is moved between extremes of the stereobase. In some embodiments, the camera may be at a fixed position andmirrors may be used to alternate between the left and right ends of thestereo base. For example, Lee et al. describe various examples usingmirrors to obtain stereo images with a single camera. [Y.-H. Lee andT.-P. Chuang, “Finding Object Depth Using Stereoscopic Photography,” inALGORITHMS AND ARCHITECTURES FOR PARALLEL PROCESSING, PROCEEDINGS, ser.Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Hua, A and Chang, SL, Ed., vol. 5574,2009, pp. 651-660, 9th International Conference on Algorithms andArchitectures for Parallel Processing, Taipei, TAIWAN, Jun. 08-11,2009.] While these embodiments will likely have less vibration (due tono camera movement), they may not all provide the ability for sufficientcloseness to the subject.

In any of the exemplary embodiments hereof, it may be preferable thatthe assembly 100 have any range of movement necessary to achieve anyabsolute positioning (within specified tolerances) of the camera 116 inthree-dimensional space as required. It may also be preferable that theassembly 100 have any range of movement necessary to place the camera116 to any relative positioning (offsets) in three-dimensional space asrequired for focus stacking and/or stereo photography (including macrostereo photography).

The controller 108 may include any type of controller including but notlimited to a computer, a mobile device, a phone, a tablet, a laptop, aserver, a cloud platform, or any other type of general or dedicatedcontroller. The controller may include software, applications, scripts,programs or other types of media that may control the movements of themotors, carriages 110-1, 112-1, 114-1, and any other components of thesystem 100 as necessary. The controller may also control aspects of thecamera 116 such that it may trigger the camera to take a picture, tofocus or to perform other functionalities necessary during it operation.The controller 108 may interface, be connected to, or otherwisecommunicate with the system 100 and/or the camera 116 using wiring,cables, networks, wireless communications, Wi-Fi, telephony, theInternet, Bluetooth or any other communication protocols or mechanisms.The controller may provide completely automated control of the system100, semi-automated control of the system 100 (e.g., may requireperiodic user input), manual control of the system 100 (e.g., the userinterfaces with the controller 108 to control the system 100), or anycombination thereof.

In one exemplary embodiment hereof, the controller may be a mobiledevice such as a smart phone, the software may be a mobile applicationresiding on the mobile device, and the mobile device may communicatewith the system 100 via Bluetooth or the like.

FIG. 2 shows aspects of a controller, including one or more processors202 and a memory 204. The memory may store data including stack andimage pairs (discussed below), and one or more applications that maycarry out some or all of the processing required.

The System in Operation

The system 100 may be employed to perform and facilitate a number ofdifferent photography techniques, including but not limited to, focusstacking, stereo macro photography and time-lapse photography.

With reference to FIGS. 3A-3B, a camera 116 with a lens 118, and mountedon a positioning assembly 102, supported by support structure 106, maybe positioned at an appropriate distance (d) from a subject 200. Formacro photography, the distance d may be sufficiently small to focus onat least a part of the subject 200.

When initially positioned, the camera is at a particular position (x1,y1, z1) with respect to the subject 200. For the sake of thisdescription, x1 is considered the first X position.

With reference to the flowchart in FIG. 4, the camera is positioned (at402) at the first X position (x1 or X_(left)). Then, a stack of images(the left stack) is obtained and stored (at 404). The image stack may beobtained by obtaining a series of images of the subject 200 at variousdistances from the subject, while keeping the focus of the lens 108fixed. A stack preferably includes at least three images, but mayinclude fewer or many more. Typically a stack has from 12-30 images,however, it could go up to 100 or more. A person of skill in the art,using the system, would know how to pick the stack size (number of stackimages). The number of images in a stack may be a function, e.g., of thetype of subject.

The camera is then positioned at second X position (x2 or)(x_(right))(at 406), and a second stack of images (the right stack) is obtained andstored (at 408). The second or right stack may be obtained in the sameway as the left stack. Preferably the left and right stacks comprise thesame number of images, taken at the same distances from the subject 200.However, the stacks may have different numbers of images and may betaken at different distances from the subject.

As noted above, the camera may be rotated (e.g., by automaticallyrotating the carriage 110-1 or a mount mechanism (not shown)). In thismanner, the camera may be angled differently for the left and rightimages. This rotation may be referred to as a “toe-in.” In embodimentsin which a rotation is applied, the camera is rotated when positioned(e.g., at 402 at 406). When a toe-in rotation is used, the angle ofrotation may be determined based on the length of the stereo base (B),discussed below, and the distance(s) to the subject. The rotation anglesmay be calculated by the controller based on information provided to thecontroller, either by a user or automatically (e.g., obtained from thecamera). FIG. 3B shows an example rotation R for the camera in the leftposition (X_(left)). The rotation for the right position will be -R.Although shown in the drawing as being based on the distance N, thevalue of R may be determined based on N, L, or a combination thereof(e.g., based on L-N).

The second position may be determined as a function of the firstposition and the distance of the camera to the subject. Various ways ofdetermining the distance between the first and second positions(sometimes referred to as the stereo base or just base) are discussedbelow.

The distances and stack sizes may be parameterized.

The two stacks of images obtained (at 404 and at the immediatelyfollowing 406) are considered a left-right stack pair.

This process is repeated for a period of time and/or until a certainnumber of pairs of image stacks have been obtained. The period of timeand/or the number of stack pairs may be parameterized.

The images obtained (at 404 and 406) may be stored in the controller 108and/or in the camera or elsewhere. The images may be stored in a stackpair data structure (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5A), where left and rightstacked images are paired time ordered. Since the right images (in theflow chart of FIG. 4) are acquired some time after the left images (byvirtue of having to move the camera), the images are paired such thateach right stack is paired with the most recently acquired left stack(assuming that the left stack is acquired first).

The images may be transferred from the camera to the controller at anytime, including during the repositioning of the camera.

Preferably the right-X images (obtained in 408) are taken as soon aspossible after the camera is correctly positioned at X_(right), althoughsome delay may be required to deal with movement-induced vibrations.

After the X_(right) images are obtained (at 408) and the camera isrepositioned (at 402), there may be a pre-determined delay (at 403)before the next X_(left) image stack is obtained (at 404). Thispre-determined delay may be in addition to any delay required to dealwith movement-induced vibrations. This pre-determined delay may beparameterized.

The left and right image stack pairs may be processed offline (e.g., bycontroller 108 or some other computer system using known focus stackingtechniques) to produce corresponding left and right image pairs (asshown, e.g., in the image pairs data structure of FIG. 5B). Each stackof images may be processed in a known manner to produce a correspondingimage. Thus, in the example of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the left stack LS1 isprocessed to produce the left image LI1, and so on.

Focus stacking is a post-production technique that may increase thedepth of field. The technique involves combining multiple images of thesame subject at the same angle (viewpoint) but at different focusdistances. The images are combined using software to create a resultingimage with a high depth of field. Focus stacking may also be referred toas focal plane merging, z-stacking or focus blending.

The left and right image pairs may then be stored and presented to showa stereo time-lapse video (“film”) of the subject. As used herein, theterm “video” refers to any kind of video, preferably digital video andcomprising one or more sequences of digital video images or image pairs.

As noted, various aspects of this process may be parameterized, allowinga user (a photographer) control over, e.g., the number of stacksobtained, the number of images in each stack, the distances moved in theX direction, and the delay between stack pairs. Particularimplementations may allow for variation on these parameters and forchanging them over time. For example, a particular time-lapse sequencemay use different stack sizes and/or delays at different times duringthe sequence.

It is noted that steps described in the example above are for conceptualand demonstrational purposes, and that the steps may be performed in anyadequate order. In addition, some of the steps described may be removedand other steps may be added as required.

In another embodiment, the support structure 106 may be positioned on atrack (e.g., a curved track), so that the camera may be repositionedaround the object.

If the camera uses a mirror, the mirror is preferably locked up duringimage capture to avoid vibration.

Although described with camera rotation, not all embodiments requirerotation (i.e., toe-in). As should be appreciated by those of skill inthe art, images obtained without toe-in may be processed (e.g.,post-processed) by reducing the width of the final image to deal withany area of overlap.

Determining the Stereo Base

As described above, the camera is moved between two positions (X_(left)and X_(right)). A person of ordinary skill in the art would know how todetermine the preferred separation between the two camera positions(optical axes), e.g., using the Bercovitz formula (described below),possibly with variations.

The distance between X_(left) and X_(right) may be referred to as thestereo base or just base (B). The stereo base (B) is the distancebetween the camera's optical axes in the two positions (X_(left) andX_(right)) (FIG. 3B). Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciateand understand, upon reading this description, that the value of B maybe a function of various factors including one or more of (allmeasurements in the same units, e.g., mm):

-   -   P=Parallax desired, in mm on the image    -   L=Largest distance from the camera lens    -   N=Nearest distance from the camera lens    -   F=Focal length of the lens

Then, using the so-called Bercovitz formula:

B=P/(L−N) (LN/F−(L+N)/2)

Note that L−N is the front-to-back depth of the subject. For stackedimages, L may be the depth of the furthest image and N may be the depthof the nearest image. If the largest distance L is infinity, then

B=P(N/F−1/2)

As should be appreciated, other techniques (e.g., the Boyer formula orthe so-called Di Marzio magnification equation[http://nzphoto.tripod.com/stereo/3dtake/fbmarzio.htm]) may be used todetermine a suitable value for B.

Note that some less preferred embodiments may use a general rule, alsosometimes referred to as the “normal” rule, where the ratio between thestereo base (B) and the distance to the subject is 1:30 (or 1:15, or1:60). That is,

B=D/30

The stereo base (B) may be determined by the controller 108, as part ofa setup procedure, and based on inputs from the user (or inputs obtainedautomatically by the controller from the camera).

The distance D=L−N may be any number that provides macro images. In someuses, the distance D may be less than 2.54 cm (one inch).

CONCLUSION

As used herein, and unless otherwise specified, the terms “subject” and“subject image” may refer to the object, item, scene, landscape, orother physical form whose image is intended to be captured andreproduced using photography or other means of image reproduction. Asshould be appreciated, the scope of the various exemplary embodiments ofthe system as described herein is not limited in any way by the subject,the type of subject or by any characteristics of the subject.

Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that the process may operate without any userintervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some humanintervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of ahuman).

The term “mechanism,” as used herein, refers to any device(s),process(es), service(s), or combination thereof. A mechanism may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, using a special-purposedevice, or any combination thereof. A mechanism may be mechanical orelectrical or a combination thereof. A mechanism may be integrated intoa single device or it may be distributed over multiple devices. Thevarious components of a mechanism may be co-located or distributed. Themechanism may be formed from other mechanisms. In general, as usedherein, the term “mechanism” may thus be considered shorthand for theterm device(s) and/or process(es) and/or service(s).

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “at least some”means “one or more,” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., thephrase “at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs”, and includes thecase of only one ABC.

As used herein, including in the claims, term “at least one” should beunderstood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes bothembodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore,dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe featureswith “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature isreferred to as “the” and “the at least one”.

As used in this description, the term “portion” means some or all. So,for example, “A portion of X” may include some of “X” or all of “X”. Inthe context of a conversation, the term “portion” means some or all ofthe conversation.

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “using” means “usingat least,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “using X” means“using at least X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word“only”, the phrase “using X” does not mean “using only X.”

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “based on” means“based in part on” or “based, at least in part, on,” and is notexclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “based on factor X” means “based inpart on factor X” or “based, at least in part, on factor X.” Unlessspecifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “based on X”does not mean “based only on X.”

In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word“only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into thatphrase.

As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “distinct” means “atleast partially distinct.” Unless specifically stated, distinct does notmean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase, “X is distinct from Y”means that “X is at least partially distinct from Y,” and does not meanthat “X is fully distinct from Y.” Thus, as used herein, including inthe claims, the phrase “X is distinct from Y” means that X differs fromY in at least some way.

It should be appreciated that the words “first,” “second,” and so on, inthe description and claims, are used to distinguish or identify, and notto show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, letter labels(e.g., “(A)”, “(B)”, “(C)”, and so on, or “(a)”, “(b)”, and so on)and/or numbers (e.g., “(i)”, “(ii)”, and so on) are used to assist inreadability and to help distinguish and/or identify, and are notintended to be otherwise limiting or to impose or imply any serial ornumerical limitations or orderings. Similarly, words such as“particular,” “specific,” “certain,” and “given,” in the description andclaims, if used, are to distinguish or identify, and are not intended tobe otherwise limiting.

As used herein, including in the claims, the terms “multiple” and“plurality” mean “two or more,” and include the case of “two.” Thus,e.g., the phrase “multiple ABCs,” means “two or more ABCs,” and includes“two ABCs.” Similarly, e.g., the phrase “multiple PQRs,” means “two ormore PQRs,” and includes “two PQRs.”

The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values andranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. areused in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally,substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” or“approximately 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant”shall also cover exactly constant).

As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are tobe construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unlessthe context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”,“including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should beunderstood as meaning “including but not limited to”, and are notintended to exclude other components unless specifically so stated.

It will be appreciated that variations to the embodiments of theinvention can be made while still falling within the scope of theinvention. Alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similarpurpose can replace features disclosed in the specification, unlessstated otherwise. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosedrepresents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similarfeatures.

The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values andranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. areused in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally,substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall alsocover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactlyconstant).

Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “forexample” (“e.g.,”) and the like, is merely intended to better illustratethe invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of theinvention unless specifically so claimed.

Thus are described methods, systems, and devices to make a stereotime-lapse video of a subject.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. A method of producing a sequence of time-lapse stereographic images of a subject, the method comprising: (A) positioning a camera with a macro lens at a first position relative to the subject; (B) using the camera to obtain a first stack of images of the subject from the first position; (C) positioning the camera at a second position relative to the subject; (D) using the camera to obtain a second stack of images of the subject from the second position; (E) storing the first stack of images and the second stack of images as a stack pair; and (F) selectively repeating acts (A)-(E).
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said selectively repeating in (F) is based on a period of total elapsed time and/or a number of stack pairs obtained.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein a focus of the lens is the same at the first position and the second position.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera is located in a three-dimensional space relative to the subject, and wherein said positioning in (A) and (C) changes the camera's position for only one of the dimensions.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein each repetition of acts (A)-(E) forms a corresponding stack pair, the method further comprising: forming a series of image pairs from the stack pairs.
 7. The method of claim 1, further is comprising: (A2) waiting a predetermined amount of time after position the camera in (A) and before using the camera in (B).
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the acts (A)-(F) are, at least in part, controlled by a controller.
 9. (canceled)
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the following are parameterized: (i) the first position; and/or (ii) the second position; and/or (iii) a number of images in the first stack; and/or (iv) a number of images in the second stack; and/or (v) a number of times acts (A)-(E) are repeated; and/or (vi) a time period during which acts (A)-(F) are repeated; and/or (vii) a number of stack pairs obtained; and/or (viii) a total elapsed time.
 11. A method of producing a sequence of time-lapse stereographic images of a subject, the method comprising: (A) positioning a camera with a macro lens at a first position relative to the subject; (B) using the camera to obtain a first stack of images of the subject from the first position; (C) positioning the camera at a second position relative to the subject; (D) using the camera to obtain a second stack of images of the subject from the second position; (E) storing the first stack of images and the second stack of images as a stack pair; and (F) selectively repeating acts (A)-(E), wherein the second position is determined as a function of the first position and/or a distance of the camera to the subject.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said using the camera in (B) occurs a first preset time after said positioning in (A).
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first preset time is selected to avoid vibration based on said positioning in (A).
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said using the camera in (D) occurs a second preset time after said positioning in (C).
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said second preset time is selected to avoid vibration based on said positioning in (C).
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera moves along a line, the method further comprising: (A1) rotating the camera by a particular angle (R) with respect to the line prior to using the camera in (B).
 17. (canceled)
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: (C1) rotating the camera by a negative of the particular angle (-R) with respect to the line prior to using the camera in (D).
 19. (canceled)
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein a distance between said first position and said second position, referred to as a stereo base, is based on one or more of: a parallax desired; and/or a largest distance of the subject from the camera lens, and/or the nearest distance of the subject from the camera lens, and/or a focal length of the lens.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein a distance between said first position and said second position, referred to as a stereo base, is determined automatically by said controller based on information obtained from said camera and/or information provided by a user.
 22. A method of producing a sequence of time-lapse stereographic images of a subject, the method comprising: (A) positioning a camera with a macro lens at a first position relative to the subject; (B) using the camera to obtain a first stack of images of the subject from the first position; (C) positioning the camera at a second position relative to the is subject; (D) using the camera to obtain a second stack of images of the subject from the second position; (E) storing the first stack of images and the second stack of images as a stack pair; and (F) selectively repeating acts (A)-(E), wherein the camera moves along a line, the method further comprising: (A1) rotating the camera by a particular angle (R) with respect to the line prior to using the camera in (B), wherein said particular angle R is determined automatically, based on one or both of: a distance between the first position and the second position; and/or a distance of the camera from a part of the subject. 23-25. (canceled)
 26. A stereo time-lapse video comprising multiple image pairs obtained by the method of claim
 1. 27. The stereo time-lapse video of claim 26, wherein the video comprises a digital video. 